Alleged Clearlake firestarters plead guilty

CLEARLAKE -- Two Clearlake men who allegedly started a fire attempting to make concentrated cannabis pleaded guilty to felony violations of health and safety codes Monday, according to officials.

Matthew Richard Carr and Dylan Alex Nevarez pleaded guilty to storage, handling or disposing of hazardous waste causing unreasonable risk of fire or explosion, as well as unlawful disposal of hazardous waste, according to a statement released by the Lake County District Attorney's (DA's) Office.

Carr and Nevarez were attempting to turn marijuana into concentrated cannabis using a butane honey oil method at an apartment on Olympic Drive in Clearlake on April 7, according to the statement.

As a result of their actions, Carr and Nevarez started a fire in the apartment complex, which was extinguished by the Lake County Fire Protection District, the release stated. Nevarez was slightly burned in the fire.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 16. The maximum sentence for these crimes is three years in prison and a $5,000 fine, the release stated.